This agitation gave rise to many a ballad and broadside, such as the “Fall of Bob,” or the “Oracle of Gin,” a tragedy; and “Desolation, or the Fall of Gin,” a poem. THE LAMENTABLE FALL OF MADAME GENEVA.—_29 Sept., 1736._[65] The Woman holds a song to yᵉ tune to yᵉ Children in yᵉ Wood. “Good lack, good lack, and Well-a-day, That Madame Gin should fall: Superior Powers she must obey. This Act will starve us all.” The Man has the second part to yᵉ same tune. “Th’ Afflicted she has caus’d to sing, The Cripple leap and dance; All those who die for love of Gin Go to Heaven in a Trance.” [Illustration] Underneath are the following verses— “The Scene appears, and Madame’s Crew In deep Despair, Exposed to view. See Tinkers, Cobblers, and cold Watchmen, With B⸺s and W⸺s as drunk as Dutchmen. All mingling with the Common Throng, Resort to hear her Passing Song. “Whilst Mirth suppress’d by Parliament, In Sober Sadness all lament, Pursued by Jekyl’s indignation, She’s brought to utter desolation. With Oaths they storm their Monarch’s name, And curse their Hands that form’d the Scheme. “All Billingsgate their Case Bemoan, And Rag-fair Change in Mourning’s hung; Queen Gin, for whom they’d sacrifice Their Shirts and Smocks, nay, both their Eyes. Rather than She want Contribution, They’d trudge the Streets without their shoes on.” The following verses on the Gin Act, in 1736, are supposed by John Nichols to be the production of Dr. Johnson. “Pensilibus fusis cyatho comitata supremo, Terribili fremitu stridula mæret anus. O longum formosa vale mihi vita decusque, Fida comes mensæ fida comesque tori! Eheu quam longo tecum consumerer ævo, Heu quam tristitiæ dulce lenimen eras. Æternum direpta mihi, sed quid moror istis, Stat, fixum est, nequeunt jam revocare preces; I, quoniam sic fata vocant, liceat mihi tantum, Vivere te viva te moriente mori.” A clever cento from the Latin poets, which may be thus represented in English:— “... Left with her last glass alone, Thus loud laments her lot, the squeaking crone: Farewell, my life and beauty, thou art sped, Faithful companion of my board and bed! My earthly term fain with thee would I live, Who to my sorrowing heart can’st solace give. Bereft of gin, alas! am I for aye! The Act is passed. ’Tis all in vain to pray. Go where the Fates may call, and know that I Living, with thee would live, and dying, die!”